Coverage

AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL
SCREENPLAY COVERAGE PROGRAM

WHAT IS COVERAGE? It’s the first and last impression of your screenplay into the Hollywood system. It determines whether you will be heard, or ignored. Coverage can work against you, the writer, but it doesn't have to.

Every day, talented writers from across the country submit their scripts to Hollywood production companies. How their scripts are received can mean overnight success or bitter disappointment. Believing that time is money, production company executives place a minefield between themselves and emerging writers to make sure the only scripts they ever see are the few their readers believe merit an all-important second read. Reaching a decision maker’s desk is an arduous journey for an unsolicited script, and the coverage system is designed primarily to sink screenplays, rather than allow them to reach their intended audiences.

The Austin Film Festival Screenplay Coverage Program is designed to increase writers’ chances of making it safely through the Hollywood coverage system by giving them the tools and information they need to make the system work for them. We utilize the same type of process used by production company readers to brand scripts, but instead of simply reducing a writer’s work to a “pass,” “consider” or “recommend,” we make sure the writer sees the analysis underlying a reader’s decision. Production companies never share their readers’ critiques with writers, so writers remain completely in the dark regarding the strengths and flaws of their screenplays. We place that critically important information in the hands of writers so they can return to their work with specific ideas on how to improve it and make it more accessible and attractive for production company readers and executives.

Your coverage fee includes the following, returned to you within 60 days of your submission:

  • The “logline” a production company reader might use to succinctly describe your story
  • A thorough and critical evaluation of the elements of your story
  • An assessment regarding the project’s market potential
  • A rating of each story element as either “excellent,” “good,” “fair” or “poor”
  • A final recommendation: “recommend,” “consider” or “pass”

Why send your script to a producer without getting important feedback from our readers first? The Austin Film Festival Screenplay Coverage Program gives you an invaluable inside look at the coverage process, provides you the tools and information necessary to improve your work, and offers you the chance to have your script thoroughly evaluated before you send it to Hollywood.

As a writer’s organization, we believe your success is our success, and we want to support you as you strive to reach your artistic and commercial goals. Don’t let your first industry read be your last. Sign up for Austin Film Festival coverage today!

“I find the AFF screenplay coverage to be especially observant and insightful, every bit as good, and often better, than what I see coming from the average studio reader.”
– Curtis Burch, President of Latitude Productions

“I've used AFF several times now and with your help the first one has placed in AFF, Slamdance, and was a semifinalist in the Nicholl. I've used other coverage services, but the writers you use seem to nail the issues in the most helpful way, and also brainstorm a bit, which is great. And it's affordable, so I can keep going back and forth with you to polish the script.”
– Trish Marx, New York

“The comments in AFF’s coverage were all right on target with my script – as much as I want to hear good things, I need the spotlight on trouble areas. The coverage was very helpful, honest and thoughtful.”
– Wendy Simons, Michigan

“I just wanted to thank you for the excellent feedback I received on my script. The reader gave detailed and insightful comments which have provided me with a deeper understanding of my own work. Thank you for your services!”
– Robbie Bourland, Utah

“The Austin Film Festival Script Coverage Program is a very helpful tool because most people need that outside feedback from an industry standard point of view. It helped me 200% and learning what I didn't know made me think and write better. Thanks for the advice.”
– Edward Meadows, Arkansas

“My script has been covered by several other contests and a couple of consultants, but your reader picked up on some quite literal mistakes that the other readers either missed entirely or were too soft-hearted to tell me about.”
– JG Edwards, New Mexico

Submit your coverage request by December 31st for a discounted price of $90 (regular $100)*
*Cannot be combined with any other offer

To submit online (requires $5 processing fee), click here
To submit through the mail, click here.